Because it's only for people who use this board, and thus I don't want random people finding it and joining it even though they don't post here. That seems like something that wouldn't happen, but you'd be surprised.

Oh, and if you aren't made into an officer in the group, it means I don't know who you are, so feel free to let me know.

Okay, that's cool. Maybe I, or someone else, should make a Facebook page for this site sometime, just to kind of let people know what this place is about, maybe grab the interest of some, and to function as a sort of public face, while your group is a kind of private club for people who already members.